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  • James Holmes, Colorado Theater Shooter, Assaulted by Another Inmate in Prison

    James Holmes, the convicted Colorado movie shooter, was reportedly assaulted by another inmate in prison earlier this month. It was back on October 8th that James Holmes was led through a hallway by an officer, when another inmate took several wings at him. He wasn’t injured.

    Adrienne Jacobson is a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Corrections. She says the 27-year-old inmate, Mark “Slim” Daniels, accused of assaulting James Holmes will be disciplined at a hearing that will take place within the prison.

    Daniels wrote a letter to The Denver Post, detailing his reasons for attacking Holmes. The media hasn’t released any details about the letter.

    James Holmes is allowed to spend four hours outside of his jail cell each day. He spends that time in a day hall. There aren’t any other inmates in his cellblock.

    It was back in July of 2012 that Holmes went on a shooting rampage inside a movie theater in suburban Denver, Colorado. Twelve people died and 70 others were wounded.

    James Holmes was convicted of those crimes in August of this year. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

    There are likely many people who wish Mark “Slim” Daniels inflicted serious harm upon James Holmes during his recent attack–maybe even worse.

  • Colorado Theater Shooter to Get New Psych Evaluation

    Colorado theater shooting suspect, James Holmes, will have another chance at a mental examination to determine if he was insane at the time he shot up a theater full of people in a suburb of Denver, according to Fox News.

    The judge in the case, Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr., determined that the first mental exam given last summer was flawed. The prosecutors’ requests to have the exam done by a doctor of their choosing has been denied. Judge Samour said that it would again be done by the state hospital, but a different doctor than last time.

    The list of things that have delayed this trial continues to grow, as just a couple of weeks ago, there was a separate hearing on whether or not the contents of Holmes’ phone could be shown to jurors. The contents reportedly include some disturbing self-photos of the suspect.

    Should the test determine that Holmes was mentally insane or “in the throes of a psychotic episode”, as his lawyers suggest, then he would be sent away to the state hospital indefinitely. If they determine that he was sane and knew exactly what he was doing, and that it was wrong, he will face either the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

    Holmes was a promising pupil, both in high school and college. In 2011 he enrolled in a Ph.D. program in neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Denver, but it was not to last. After failing a key test and dropping out, it was only a matter of weeks before he was committing one of the biggest and most shocking crimes in recent history.

    He entered a theater full of people in Aurora, Colorado, during a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises”. He riddled the audience with bullets, killing 12 and injuring 70. He also rigged his apartment with deadly explosives to distract, confuse and possibly harm responders. Holmes has so far pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

    His trial date is still anyone’s guess as pre-trial motions continue.

    Image via YouTube

  • James Holmes: Mass Murderer Looking for New Love

    James Holmes is reportedly on the market, Ladies. Fox News reports that the mass murderer set up two online dating accounts, one on Match.com and another on Adultfriendfinder.com. There’s only one problem. There may not be a chance to watch a sunset or picnic in the park with this bachelor.

    Holmes, 25, in case you didn’t know, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to killing 12 people and injuring 70 others during a shooting spree at a movie theater in Aurora on July 20, 2012. He set up his profiles under the handle “classicjimbo” and both featured images of him and his crazy eyes and wild red hair. The profiles reportedly asked, “Will you visit me in prison?”. The accounts were accessed just two days before the mass shooting.

    It sounds crazy, of course. But why wouldn’t it? He’s crazy. But what’s so surprising, is that there are women who LOVE this kind of boyfriend. “He is the perfect kind of person to be a target for these prison groupies because he’s obviously savvy, he’s into the web and Internet dating,” said Sheila Isenberg, author of “Women Who Love Men Who Kill.”

    She says that these “groupies” want to be a part of infamy and there is a low risk of rejection involved, which makes it attractive to women who have been abused in their past. There’s no way the love interest can hurt them, and the incarcerated boyfriend has nothing to do but give them attention, write them letters and think about them.

    This is not a new phenomenon. Some of America’s most notorious criminals have been prolific writers behind bars, including cult killer Charles Manson, BTK murderer Dennis Rader and the Menendez brothers, both of whom married women after being incarcerated for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.

    Lyle Menendez tied the knot with longtime pen pal and former model Anna Eriksson in 1996 before divorcing five years later, and Erik Menendez married Tammie Ruth Saccoman during a telephone ceremony at Folsom State Prison in 1999, reportedly using a Twinkie as their wedding cake.

    More recently, this trend can be seen in the cases of Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch man imprisoned for killing a woman in Peru and widely suspected behind the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway, and accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

    “In this age of instant information, these criminals become heroes overnight,” she said. “[Tsarnaev] has young girls with Facebook pages of him and others posting on Twitter about him, doing stuff in his name. We’re creating instant celebrities with the Internet and creating instant celebrities out of criminals.”

    Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be prison groupies.

    Image via youtube

  • Colorado Recall: Gun Control Debate Fires Up

    Reuters reported that two Colorado Democrats are finding themselves on the unfriendly side of a recall election this week. John Morse of Colorado Springs and Angela Giron of Pueblo both face potential recall in the wake of national gun control debates and the laws they chose to support.

    Morse, in particular, helped lead an effort to ban magazines with a bullet capacity of greater than 15 rounds and a similar effort that would require private gun sales to include background checks. Both Democrats are finding themselves targeted by gun control opponents and NRA television ads.

    Colorado suffered a national tragedy when James Holmes entered a crowded movie theater in Aurora and killed 12 people while injuring 58. Holmes was armed with an assault rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. The incident, combined with the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, led lawmakers to try and manage fallout through legislation.

    Gun rights advocates are adamantly seeking recall as a way to send a message to lawmakers about their voting records regarding gun control, while gun control advocates find the gun rights advocates to be bullies. Both sides are pouring the dollars into the campaign, with the NRA donating $368,000 to recall the two Democrats while almost $3 million have been donated to fight the recall effort. Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City personally donated $350,000 to defend the Democrats while LA billionaire Eli Broad donated $250,000.

    A great deal of mudslinging has already taken place: a Rocky Mountain Gun Owners ad accused John Morse of obeying “East Coast liberals like billionaire playboy New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg,” who earned himself the nickname “Nanny Bloomberg” for his repeated regulatory efforts perceived as governmental intrusion.

    Regardless of the politics involved, each side of the aisle is watching the election with great anxiety. If the recall goes through, lawmakers may find themselves under fire for attacking gun rights, but if the recall fails, Colorado’s stricter gun laws may just be coming to a county near you.

    Tom Cronin, author of a book about recall elections and a professor at Colorado College, said that “In terms of the math, it’s like a pebble… But it’s a pebble that will send a wide message.”

    If you want to know more, the LA Times has a more in-depth report.

    [Image via this YouTube video of a lady shooting guns]

    UPDATE: In a Tuesday morning announcement, both Democrats have been formally recalled by election and will be replaced by Republicans. Expect politicians to be more paranoid about expressing pro-gun control opinions in the future.

  • Holmes: Online Ammo Purchase Preceded Massacre

    James Holmes, officials say, purchased 6,000 rounds of ammo online before he shot up a movie theater in Colorado last year.

    Officials have unsealed documents which show he received several deliveries from ammo companies in the weeks leading up to the shootings, as well as other packages; so many, in fact, that they were coming on almost a “daily basis”.

    Holmes, who has been charged with 166 offenses–including murder and attempted murder for the 12 people he killed and 58 who were wounded–has officially requested to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

    Holmes also purchased several weapons from nearby stores, and police have stressed that everything he bought, he bought legally.

    “Some versions of the AR-15 assault rifle that police said was one of three guns James Holmes carried into the movie theater massacre were outlawed for civilian sale under the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. Since then, all versions have been legal for sale and possession in the U.S.,” writer Kurt Heine said. “The AR-15, widely distributed by more than two dozen manufacturers in a range of calibers, is a semi-automatic rifle that fires shots individually, with each pull of the trigger. Aftermarket parts available at sporting goods stores include magazines big enough to hold 90 bullets. AP reports Holmes’ gun was equipped with a high-capacity, drum-style magazine.”

  • 3,500 Potential Witnesses in Aurora Shooting Trial

    Nearly one year ago, James Holmes entered a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado with tear gas and guns, killing 12 people and injuring over 60 others. The shooting took place during an opening weekend showing of The Dark Knight Rises, turning crowded summer movie blockbuster premieres into yet another place where Americans are now wary of guns (though at least one Missouri movie theater recently forgot this).

    Now, Holmes’ murder trial is about to begin, and prosecutors seem to have an incredible amount of evidence to demonstrate that he was the shooter. According to an Associated Press report, prosecutors this week filed a motion in court that states they have close to 3,500 potential witnesses that could be called on to testify. In addition, prosecutors estimated they have almost 40,000 pages of evidence that have been filed.

    Holmes will be tried on multiple counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors have turned down a plea offer from Holmes’ defense for the suspect to plead guilty if they agree not to seek the death penalty, stating they do intend to seek the death penalty. Holmes’ lawyer recently requested the suspect’s plea be changed to not guilty by reason of insanity, which the judge in the case is currently deciding whether or not to accept.

  • Aurora Shooter James Holmes Islam Conversion Rumored

    Earlier this month, Aurora shooter James Holmes appeared in court sporting a huge beard. Now, rumors have begun to surface claiming that the man has converted to Islam.

    According to a report in the Daily Mail, the rumor first surfaced in the tabloid publication The National Enquirer. An unnamed “prison source” allegedly told the Enquirer that Holmes has converted to Islam, prays five times a day, eats only halal food, and studies the Koran. The source is quoted as saying Holmes now believes his shooting rampage was part of “his own personal jihad.” The rumors also hold that Holmes’ fellow muslim inmates are not happy with his alleged conversion, as they don’t want the religion to be associated with his crimes.

    Holmes is currently on trial for the shooting that took place at an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre in July 2012 during a showing of the move The Dark Knight Rises. He allegedly entered the theatre wearing a gas mask and shot canisters of tear gas into the crowd. He then shot into the crowd with a shotgun, semi-automatic rifle, and handgun. 12 people died and 58 others were injured.

    The rumors of Holmes’ religious conversion sound a bit sketchy. If true, though, they could be an indication of Holmes’ mental health, which has been called into question. Of course, the rumors could just be false, or Holmes could simply be trolling everyone.

  • James Holmes Hospitalized With Mysterious Condition

    James Holmes, the man who shot and killed 12 people and wounded 58 others in a Colorado movie theater this summer, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday with an unspecified condition, rendering him unable to attend his court date this week.

    Officials and Holmes’ attorney were vague as to any detail, saying only, “It’s not as simple as a migraine”.

    Holmes has been analyzed by court-appointed psychiatrists since the shooting in an attempt to figure out his mental and emotional state and whether or not he is fit to stand trial. Since being incarcerated, he has reportedly made several “half-hearted” attempts to kill himself–running into the wall of his cell, jumping off his bed–and some believe this hospitalization came after another attempt.

    Attorneys for Holmes have filed for a motion to delay his hearing, but prosecutors want answers before any such reprieve is given.

    “It is not clear whether it is claimed he is suffering from a physical medical condition, a mental condition, whether he is suffering from a negative emotional reaction to his circumstances, or anything other than he has some kind of ‘condition,’” prosecutors said.

    The accused gunman has exhibited strange behavior since he was taken into custody, staring wide-eyed into the camera for mugshots and sitting limply in the courtroom, staring into space. Officials say the shooting came after he failed several exams at school and wasn’t given a good referral for a doctorate program; after the theater shooting, police found his apartment booby-trapped and what they described as an “arsenal” of weapons, which he had laid aside in preparation for a mass killing.

  • What Should Facebook Do About All Of These James Holmes Pages?

    I’m not really sure of my purpose behind reporting this. And I’m not really sure what this says about the internet, Facebook, people in general – if anything. Maybe it says something about our culture, and how criminals are made into celebrities by the 24-hour news cycle. Maybe it’s merely a commentary on just how large of a tragedy the Aurora theater shooting really was – that so many people would feel compelled to do this on a public forum like Facebook.

    Maybe it’s because it can compel a vigorous debate on free speech and distasteful speech, and what Facebook should do in situations like this.

    What should Facebook do about the multitude of pro-James Holmes pages on the site? Should Facebook be in the business of censoring impertinent speech? Let us know in the comments.

    Truly, I’m not sure I can flesh out a deeper meaning to this. All I can say is whoa – there are already an epic amount of James Holmes-related Facebook pages.

    (James Holmes, as you’re probably well-aware, is the alleged perpetrator of last weekend’s brutal theater massacre at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado. His actions left 12 dead and 58 injured.)

    A large majority of the pages that have popped up are simply “public figure” pages. They typically have anywhere between a few dozen and a few hundred “likes.”

    Of course, there are also plenty of “James Holmes must rot in hell” and “James Holmes needs to be decapitated” pages.

    But some James Holmes-related pages are insensitive in a typical internet-troll fashion. You’ve got your “Holmes, James Holmes” page, your “James Holmes fan club,” your “Jame’s Holmes didn’t really do anything” page. Ultimate troll award goes to the person who created the “James Holmes – Probably not such a bad guy” page.

    Their only post goes like this:

    James Holmes- Probably not such a bad guy2 days ago

    Learn before you judge; This guy is probably a brilliant young man who had motives for his actions beyond the conventional sense of right and wrong. Just my opinion, but what if, as a discouraged genius who couldn’t find work decided to kill a bunch of stupid people watching a new Batman movie? I truly hope he gets the chance to speak his mind, lest someone else need to acquire their own 15 minutes Powered by socialditto  1 likes ·  61 comments

    Then, you have the newly formed page “James Holmes is a true hero” where they say they are “here to praise our dark knight.” Here’s the photo that stands as that page’s profile pic:

    +50 for humanity that it only has 1 “like” so far.

    I counted over 150 James Holmes-related pages that have already popped up since Friday.

    Facebook has responded to these pages.

    “While incredibly distasteful, [it] doesn’t violate our terms,” they said.

    Indeed, Facebook’s Statement on Rights and Responsibilities clearly states that Facebook users will not “bully, intimidate, or harass” any other user. It also forbids content that is “hate speech, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.” So, unless the James Holmes Facebook pages begin posting content that falls into any of those categories, Facebook will keep out of it.

    “We are heartened that the vast majority of activity on Facebook surrounding this tragedy has been focused on helping the community cope and beginning the healing process in the wake of these events,” said Facebook.

    Of course, this isn’t the first time that Facebook has felt the heat over controversial content on the site. Back in March of 2011, Facebook removed a page called “Third Palestinian Intifada” after a load of pressure from outside groups. In that case, Facebook took a while in removing the page, even though ti clearly called for a violent uprising against a specific ethnic group.

    In August, a post on the Fox News Facebook page concerning an appearance by Blair Scott of American Atheists on the station was inundated with hateful and often violent comments against atheists. The comments included death threats, for instance “Shoot them, shoot to kill” and “Nail them to that cross then display it.” We asked whether or not these kinds of comments were free speech or if Facebook had an obligation to pull them as they incited violence. Fox News ended up deleting the comments before Facebook had to make a decision either way.

    And there continues to be an ongoing battle with breastfeeding activists over Facebook’s removal of many images of mothers feeding their babies.

    So, one could argue that Facebook will remove a post show a natural act because of a hint of a nipple is showing, but will allow other users to upload photoshopped images of President Obama pinning the medal of honor on James Holmes to their pages.

    Then again, the pages that have popped up in praise and support of James Holmes and his actions in Aurora last Friday aren’t really violating any of Facebook’s terms. And it is people’s right to be impertinent, as long as it doesn’t translate into illegal. Is it really Facebook’s job to police disrespectful, distasteful, and otherwise unpopular content? Or does Facebook make the right decision when they allow all kinds of speech to exist on the site? Let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Colorado Shooting: Copycat Fears Cause Panic at Theaters

    The shooting which took place at a midnight screening of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” in Colorado last week was front and center in my mind during my recent screening. Although the movie itself has done nothing wrong, it’s still kind of hard to watch the film without thinking about all of those people who were attempting to enjoy the same thing when James Holmes stormed the theater. My eyes kept wandering towards the emergency exits, my mind surveying the other people in attendance. None of this was done consciously, and I was a little surprised by how much the events affected my overall experience.

    Apparently there’s good reason to keep an eye on your fellow moviegoers during showings of the latest Batman feature. No less than three individuals have been arrested for acting up during the movie, which has understandably caused people to be a little on edge. My biggest fear is that theaters will start patting down patrons on their way in, especially considering how many individuals continue to act a fool while Batman is trying to save Gotham City.

    A drunk and disorderly fellow started causing a commotion during a showing in Sierra Visa, Arizona, forcing over 50 patrons to flee in panic. The Cochise County Sheriff’s office described the public’s reaction to the man’s behavior as “mass hysteria”.

    In Maine, police discovered an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns, ammunition, and several news clippings about the Colorado shooting after pulling Timothy Courtois over for speeding. According to reports, the man was on his way to murder his former boss a day after viewing “The Dark Knight Rises”. My mind is completely boggled by this.

    In Southern California, 52-year-old Clark Tabor became a little agitated when the showing of the latest Batman flick didn’t start on time. “I should go off like in Colorado,” Tabor shouted. “Does anybody have a gun?” Police were immediately called to the scene, though a search of the man’s backpack revealed he wasn’t carrying any firearms.

    Since the film made $160 million over the weekend, it would seem that most individuals are okay with heading out for viewing of “The Dark Knight Rises”. It’s an incredible movie, and I highly recommend it to fans of the franchise. However, don’t be overly alarmed if you find yourself eyeballing the exit doors, as well as your fellow moviegoers. Considering how unstable people seem to be these days, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

  • Petra Anderson Survives Colorado Shooting Thanks to Rare Brain Defect

    Petra Anderson Survives Colorado Shooting Thanks to Rare Brain Defect

    Petra Anderson was like everyone else at the midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado: She just wanted to see the latest Batman movie. What nobody anticipated was that masked gunman James Holmes would burst into the theater shortly into the feature and begin shooting people at random. One of his many victims was 22-year-old Petra Anderson, a recent graduate of University of the Pacific’s Stockton Campus who planned to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Maryland this fall. Sadly, her dreams were put on hold after being shot four times by the lunatic, one of which hit her in the head.

    However, as tragic as her story may be, there is a bit of a silver lining. According to doctors, Anderson suffers from a rare brain defect which ultimately saved her life. Petra’s pastor, Brad Strait, explained that the girl’s condition created a small river of fluid which runs from the front of her brain to the back. When the shotgun pellet found its way into her skull, it connected with this liquid, allowing it completely bypass her brain matter.

    “The shotgun buck shot, maybe even the size used for deer hunting, enters her brain from the exact point of this defect,” Pastor Strait explained in a recent blog post. “Like a marble through a small tube, the defect channels the bullet from Petra’s nose through her brain. It turns slightly several times, and comes to rest at the rear of her brain. And in the process, the bullet misses all the vital areas of the brain.”

    Although the bullet remains lodged inside Anderson’s cranium, doctors anticipate that she will make a complete recovery. Sadly, the medical bills for Petra’s treatment and surgery, as well as the expenses associated with her mother’s breast cancer, have taken a financial toll on the family. An Indiegogo account has been set up to help the family weather this very stressful and unfortunate storm. Check out the video for #readytobelieve4petra below.

    Everyone at WebProNews wishes Petra Anderson and her mother a speedy recovery.

  • Second Person of Interest Investigated by Colorado Police

    A second person of interest is currently being investigated by Colorado police. Although details about the individual and his involvement in last week’s deadly shooting have not been officially released, witnesses have reported seeing SWAT personnel and police officers at this mysterious person’s place of residence.

    According to FOX 31 Denver, sources told one of their reporters that a second “person of interest” was being investigated by Colorado authorities. However, officials have recently stated this is not the case. “An associate of Holmes was interviewed this evening (Saturday),” explained spokeswoman Sgt. Cassidee Carlson. “There is no reason to believe that he is involved. Further details of this investigation will not be released at this time.”

    KDVR reports that someone using this second person of interest’s phone sent threatening messages to Colorado police, stating that more violence would ensue if suspect James Holmes was not released from jail. The person, who allegedly has a master’s degree in bio-medical science, is rumored to have attended the same collegiate program as Holmes. Beyond this, details have been very sketchy at-best.

    Additionally, police have completed their search of the college campus, though they have not made their findings public as of this writing. And while speculation about this second individual’s role in the shooting continues, police have not yet arrested him in connection with anything related to the case.

  • Colorado Shooting: Holmes Appears Dazed In Court

    James Holmes, the 24-year old man who went on a shooting rampage early Friday morning in a Colorado theater, appeared court today after being arrested for the deaths of 12 people and shooting injuries of more than 60.

    Holmes sat quietly in the courtroom, his fiery dyed hair a jarring spectacle among the somber colors surrounding him, and appeared almost to be drugged. Certainly, he looked distant and exhausted as he was read his rights and was informed that he is being held without the possibility of bail due to the nature of his crime. His behavior during the proceedings was strange enough for newscasters to wonder whether he will be declared competent to stand trial, as will his failure to speak even one word, choosing instead to communicate through his lawyers.

    Holmes’ parents are reportedly not being cooperative at all during the investigation, so it will be interesting to see how their roles in the trial will play out, as well as what we may learn about Holmes in coming weeks.

    We will update this article as news is given.

    *UPDATE*

    District Attorney Carol Chambers says there is no such thing as a “slam dunk case” and that they will work diligently in an effort to give Holmes a fair trial as well as work with the victims and their families. She also says this will be a lengthy process and that any talk of the death penalty will be carefully considered, because it will affect so many people. It could be a year before the case goes to trial, she says.